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Article MASONIC PHILOSOPHY. ← Page 4 of 9 →
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Masonic Philosophy.
neither produced , nonproductive , but multiple , individual , sensitive , eternal , unalterable , immaterial . The Theists , however , discard the notion of the individuality of the soul , and substitute an idea which they attach to the word Iswara , the Grand Architect or Master of
the Universe , and they designate the different stages through which it must pass to attain beatitude—deliverance . Under this head are treated the union of the soul with the body—the obstacles opposed to its enfranchisement by various sources of error—the power of virtuous actions and of moral development to modify or dissolve the elements which enslave it . To achieve this deliverance we must
submit to solitary contemplation , to a state of mystic devotion , and a kind of nihilism , in which nature altogether disappears , and in which the soul is left to its own self-enjoyment , independent of the universe or even of the Deity . Such is a summary of the Sankian philosophy , so far as we can collect from ancient records .
In this mixed class of Hindoo philosophy the school of Nyaya follows that of Sankia ; its system is dialectic , as is implied by the Hindostanee word nyaya , which signifies reason . Its doctrines are purely logical , being essentially distinguished from those of Sankia , which are altogether metaphysical . Gautama , the first master of this school , supports his principle from a passage in the Vedas , and
so far it assumes an orthodox character . His collection of Soutras , or aphorisms , is divided into five books , founded upon this quotation from those sacred writings , in which the method of instruction and study is pointed out ; namely , the enunciation of any object under the term designated to it by revelation , so as to give an exact definition of its peculiar property or essential character ; the investigation by which
it is proved whether or not this definition be in unison with its term . In conformity with this order , the terms of science are placed in the first rank , and the researches by which their individual character is defined , in the second , so as to express the most general points of view under which the mind can best distinguish their peculiar ramifications . These terms are essentially reduced to seven ,- —substance ,
quality , community , individuality , relation , negation , and discussion ; by which we establish and determine , according to the . Nyayan doctrine , every proof of existing science . By the study of this proof the efficient cause of knowledge is solved by four rules , —perception , induction , analogy , and affirmation ; the latter comprises tradition and revelation .
It is a remarkable fact , that in analyzing the terms of induction as deduced from the Nyayan philosophy , we trace the complete syllogism propounded subsequently by " Aristotle , and we discover the regular lino of argument pursued throughout our first and second Masonic degrees , —the proposition , the reason , the example , the application , and the conclusion .
As to the application of the dialectic method to objects of knowledge , G-autama commences with the soul : —it is the seat of intelligence and of sentiment ; it is distinct from the body and from the senses ; different in each individual , and moreover , infinite , eternal
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Philosophy.
neither produced , nonproductive , but multiple , individual , sensitive , eternal , unalterable , immaterial . The Theists , however , discard the notion of the individuality of the soul , and substitute an idea which they attach to the word Iswara , the Grand Architect or Master of
the Universe , and they designate the different stages through which it must pass to attain beatitude—deliverance . Under this head are treated the union of the soul with the body—the obstacles opposed to its enfranchisement by various sources of error—the power of virtuous actions and of moral development to modify or dissolve the elements which enslave it . To achieve this deliverance we must
submit to solitary contemplation , to a state of mystic devotion , and a kind of nihilism , in which nature altogether disappears , and in which the soul is left to its own self-enjoyment , independent of the universe or even of the Deity . Such is a summary of the Sankian philosophy , so far as we can collect from ancient records .
In this mixed class of Hindoo philosophy the school of Nyaya follows that of Sankia ; its system is dialectic , as is implied by the Hindostanee word nyaya , which signifies reason . Its doctrines are purely logical , being essentially distinguished from those of Sankia , which are altogether metaphysical . Gautama , the first master of this school , supports his principle from a passage in the Vedas , and
so far it assumes an orthodox character . His collection of Soutras , or aphorisms , is divided into five books , founded upon this quotation from those sacred writings , in which the method of instruction and study is pointed out ; namely , the enunciation of any object under the term designated to it by revelation , so as to give an exact definition of its peculiar property or essential character ; the investigation by which
it is proved whether or not this definition be in unison with its term . In conformity with this order , the terms of science are placed in the first rank , and the researches by which their individual character is defined , in the second , so as to express the most general points of view under which the mind can best distinguish their peculiar ramifications . These terms are essentially reduced to seven ,- —substance ,
quality , community , individuality , relation , negation , and discussion ; by which we establish and determine , according to the . Nyayan doctrine , every proof of existing science . By the study of this proof the efficient cause of knowledge is solved by four rules , —perception , induction , analogy , and affirmation ; the latter comprises tradition and revelation .
It is a remarkable fact , that in analyzing the terms of induction as deduced from the Nyayan philosophy , we trace the complete syllogism propounded subsequently by " Aristotle , and we discover the regular lino of argument pursued throughout our first and second Masonic degrees , —the proposition , the reason , the example , the application , and the conclusion .
As to the application of the dialectic method to objects of knowledge , G-autama commences with the soul : —it is the seat of intelligence and of sentiment ; it is distinct from the body and from the senses ; different in each individual , and moreover , infinite , eternal